It is impossible to write a blog about alternative rock music and not mention Alex Turner. In short, he is a God of the indie-rock scene, one that will be remembered alongside Jack White and (begrudgingly) Chris Martin. But unlike these celebrated artists who seem to be heading towards the tail-end of their careers, Turner is still in the middle of his, revelling in success and creativity. He is young, attractive, and he still has plenty left to say. And we are willing to listen.
Praising the poetic talent of Turner seems to have become cliche in the music world, but it can not be avoided. Instead of beautiful, artistic language, Turner's lyrics are full of wit. The combination of clever, ironic plays on words sung in sung in Turner's almost cocky Sheffield accent set to a unique guitar/drum combination is what has made the Arctic Monkeys on of the best bands of the past decade, and certainly one of the best in future decades to come.
One would think that, after hugely successful albums, Turner has run out of ways to twist the English language into art, but it seems that isn't the case. From the 2006 Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not to the 2011 release of Suck It And See, the creative genius of Turner has not failed once. The hit, Mardy Bum, that infected Britain and the rest of the world with Arctic Monkeys fever, has been echoed back to the band by thousands of voices because the clever, catchy lyrics and the addictive tune make it a song that refuses to be rejected: "Now then Mardy Bum/I see your frown/And it's like looking down the barrel of a gun/And it goes off/And out come all these words/Oh there's a very pleasant side to you/A side I much prefer". Who wouldn't want to be her, the one with the very pleasant side he much prefers?
The hits are not the only great examples of Turner's talent. Less popular songs, such as I Haven't Got My Strange (Favourite Worst Nightmare 2007) with lyrics like "I had a hole in the pocket of my favourite coat and my love dropped into the lining" can be heard and pondered and appreciated just as much as top-of-the-charts tunes.
Proof that Turner's talent doesn't run out is the song, Suck It And See from the 2011 album of the same namesake. Turner begins by comparing some girl (we wish it was us!) to soft drinks, and then later on shares, "I poured my aching heart into a pop song/I couldn't get the hang of poetry," essentially rubbing his genius in our admiring noses.
The Arctic Monkeys aren't Turner's only creative outlet: he and fellow indie-rocker Miles Kane formed the also successful side band The Last Shadow Puppets. The act that successfully mixes the lyrical mastermind of the two, but instead of the rock-and-roll sound of The Arctic Monkeys, the instrumental backing has a retro sound, a fuller and more thought out accompaniment that can be argued to sound almost anti-Beatles. But that is a story for another day.
Turner is a prime star in the alternative rock scene. He is endlessly talented, unafraid to experiment with different sounds, and has a voice that makes us want to be in the front row. The only drawback to him is the fact that he is so widely known and loved: we want him all to ourselves.
Notable Songs:
Mardy Bum
Fluorescent Adolescent
When The Sun Goes Down
All You People Are Vampires
505
All My Own Stunts
Black Treacle
Suck It And See
Riot Van
She's Thunderstorms
Praising the poetic talent of Turner seems to have become cliche in the music world, but it can not be avoided. Instead of beautiful, artistic language, Turner's lyrics are full of wit. The combination of clever, ironic plays on words sung in sung in Turner's almost cocky Sheffield accent set to a unique guitar/drum combination is what has made the Arctic Monkeys on of the best bands of the past decade, and certainly one of the best in future decades to come.
One would think that, after hugely successful albums, Turner has run out of ways to twist the English language into art, but it seems that isn't the case. From the 2006 Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not to the 2011 release of Suck It And See, the creative genius of Turner has not failed once. The hit, Mardy Bum, that infected Britain and the rest of the world with Arctic Monkeys fever, has been echoed back to the band by thousands of voices because the clever, catchy lyrics and the addictive tune make it a song that refuses to be rejected: "Now then Mardy Bum/I see your frown/And it's like looking down the barrel of a gun/And it goes off/And out come all these words/Oh there's a very pleasant side to you/A side I much prefer". Who wouldn't want to be her, the one with the very pleasant side he much prefers?
The hits are not the only great examples of Turner's talent. Less popular songs, such as I Haven't Got My Strange (Favourite Worst Nightmare 2007) with lyrics like "I had a hole in the pocket of my favourite coat and my love dropped into the lining" can be heard and pondered and appreciated just as much as top-of-the-charts tunes.
Proof that Turner's talent doesn't run out is the song, Suck It And See from the 2011 album of the same namesake. Turner begins by comparing some girl (we wish it was us!) to soft drinks, and then later on shares, "I poured my aching heart into a pop song/I couldn't get the hang of poetry," essentially rubbing his genius in our admiring noses.
The Arctic Monkeys aren't Turner's only creative outlet: he and fellow indie-rocker Miles Kane formed the also successful side band The Last Shadow Puppets. The act that successfully mixes the lyrical mastermind of the two, but instead of the rock-and-roll sound of The Arctic Monkeys, the instrumental backing has a retro sound, a fuller and more thought out accompaniment that can be argued to sound almost anti-Beatles. But that is a story for another day.
Turner is a prime star in the alternative rock scene. He is endlessly talented, unafraid to experiment with different sounds, and has a voice that makes us want to be in the front row. The only drawback to him is the fact that he is so widely known and loved: we want him all to ourselves.
Notable Songs:
Mardy Bum
Fluorescent Adolescent
When The Sun Goes Down
All You People Are Vampires
505
All My Own Stunts
Black Treacle
Suck It And See
Riot Van
She's Thunderstorms
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